U.S. patent application number 15/334936 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-27 for animal food dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Doskocil Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Nicholas BAKER, David SIMON, David VENESS.
Application Number | 20170112092 15/334936 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58561461 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170112092 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SIMON; David ; et
al. |
April 27, 2017 |
ANIMAL FOOD DISPENSER
Abstract
An animal food dispenser, includes a base portion and a roller
portion. The base portion has first and second upwardly extending
members. The roller portion has an opening, and is configured to be
held by the upwardly extending members such that he roller portion
is capable of freely rotating and dispending food through the
opening.
Inventors: |
SIMON; David; (Lakeland,
FL) ; VENESS; David; (Fort Worth, TX) ; BAKER;
Nicholas; (Fort Worth, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Doskocil Manufacturing Company |
Arlington |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58561461 |
Appl. No.: |
15/334936 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62372426 |
Aug 9, 2016 |
|
|
|
62246158 |
Oct 26, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/0114 20130101;
A01K 15/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/01 20060101
A01K005/01; A01K 15/02 20060101 A01K015/02 |
Claims
1. An animal food dispenser, comprising: a base portion having
first and second upwardly extending members; and a roller portion
having an opening, and configured to be held by the upwardly
extending members such that he roller portion is capable of freely
rotating and dispending food through the opening.
2. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the roller portion
includes a first roller portion and a second roller portion
removeably attached to the first roller portion.
3. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the roller portion
includes grooves on an exterior surface thereof.
4. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening is a
first opening and the roller portion includes a second opening.
5. The animal food dispenser of claim 4, wherein the second opening
is disposed about 180.degree. from the first opening.
6. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the based portion
includes first and second grooves, and the roller portion includes
first and second protrusions configured to be inserted into the
first and second grooves, respectively.
7. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base includes
a receptacle portion configured to receive animal food.
8. The animal food dispenser of claim 7, wherein the receptacle
portion includes a vertical wall at a circumference thereof.
9. The animal food dispenser of claim 7, wherein the receptacle
portion includes a vertical wall at a circumference thereof.
10. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base has a
first end and a second end, a receptacle portion disposed at the
first end and a vertical wall disposed at the second end.
11. The animal food dispenser of claim 10, wherein the vertical
wall includes a lip portion at an upper end thereof.
12. The animal food dispenser of claim 11, wherein lip portion is
configured to extend inwardly toward an outer circumference of the
roller portion so as to maintain the food in the base portion.
13. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the roller
portion includes internal baffles.
14. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening is
generally circular.
15. The animal food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the roller
portion includes a partially arcuate outer surface.
16. The animal food dispenser of claim 15, wherein the roller
portion includes first and second generally flat ends.
17. The animal food dispenser of claim 16, wherein the roller
portion includes first and second protrusions, disposed on the
first and second generally flat ends, respectively.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Application Ser. No.
62/372,426, filed Aug. 9, 2016 and Application Ser. No. 62/246,158,
filed Oct. 26, 2015, the contents of each of which are herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Object of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is directed to an animal food
dispenser. In particular, the present invention related to an
animal food dispenser that selectively dispenses animal food.
[0004] Description of Related Art
[0005] Animal toys that dispense animal treats when the toy is
rolled or otherwise manipulated are generally known. Such
structures have a variety of forms and arrangements of holes and
openings These treat-discharging toys are generally comprised of a
wall that forms a hollow body which is configured for rolling and
which has an interior cavity and one or more openings being
dimensioned and configured for passage of animal treats into and
out of the cavity.
SUMMARY
[0006] Many animals have a relatively short attention span and are
easily bored. It would be desirable for a food dispenser to sustain
an animal's attention for longer periods of time than previous
toys. Moreover, many animals eat too fast. What is needed is a new
type of food dispenser which dispenses food differently from those
already known, thereby sparking an animal's interest for longer
periods of time and/or increasing the time frame in which an animal
may eat. Such an animal food dispenser includes a base portion and
a roller portion. The base portion has first and second upwardly
extending members. The roller portion has an opening, and is
configured to be held by the upwardly extending members such that
he roller portion is capable of freely rotating and dispending food
through the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter
with reference to the drawings.
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of food dispenser
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of the food
dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a side sectional view of the food
dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the roller portion of
the food dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the roller portion of
FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is top plan view of the roller portion of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the base of the food dispenser
of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a roller member of the
roller portion of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the roller member of
FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the base of FIG.
7;
[0018] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a food
dispenser;
[0019] FIG. 12 is top perspective view of the food dispenser of
FIG. 11;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a roller member of the
roller portion of FIG. 11; and
[0021] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the food dispenser of
FIG. 11 dispensing food.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to
the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments
are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of
limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0023] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a food dispenser 10 is
illustrated in accordance with a first embodiment. In this
embodiment, the food dispenser includes a base portion 12 and a
roller portion 14.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the base portion 12 is
preferably a plastic injection molded member. In one embodiment,
the base portion 12 includes a receiving section 16 configured to
receive food F (e.g., pet treats or the like--see FIG. 12) and two
upwardly extending members 18a and 18b. The receiving section 16
has a generally flat part 20 with a wall 22 to retain the food. The
receiving section 16 can have any suitable configuration including
a bowl like configuration, as long as the receiving section 16 is
capable of receiving and/or retaining food therein. The wall 22 is
preferably a vertical wall at a circumference 24 of the receiving
section 16. The receiving section 16 also includes an upwardly
extending part 26 configured to prevent food from exiting the food
dispenser 10. The upwardly extending part 26 and the flat part 20
are connected by a curved area 28 that enables the food to slide
due to gravity into the flat part 20. Preferably, the flat part 20,
the upwardly extending part 26 and the curved area 28 are unitary
or one piece, but can be formed in any suitable manner.
[0025] In one embodiment, the upwardly extending part 26 can follow
the contour (or outer circumferential surface 34) of the roller
portion 14 to maintain any dispensed food in the base portion 12.
In one embodiment, the upwardly extending part 26 has a lip portion
30 at an upper end 32 thereof. The lip portion 30 extends inwardly
toward the outer circumferential surface 34 of the roller portion
14 to maintain the food portion in the base portion 12. The lip
portion 30 can extend in this manner any suitable distance.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the upwardly extending members
18a and 18b are preferably arm members that are configured to hold
the roller portion 14 above the receiving section 16 so that the
roller portion 14 is capable of rotating. Each of the upwardly
extending members 18a and 18b generally has a length that is
greater than the radius of the roller portion 14. Further each of
the upwardly extending members 18a and 18b has a notch or groove 36
configured to receive a protrusion 38 from the roller portion 14.
The notch 36 enables the roller portion 14 to freely rotate above
or adjacent the receiving portion 16. As shown in FIG. 10, the
notch 36 can have a protrusion 40 that is configured to hold the
protrusion 38 of the roller portion 14 in the notch 36.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2-6, 8 and 9, the roller portion 14
preferably is generally elliptical in shape (or "pill" shaped) and
includes a first end 48 and a second end 50. The first end 48 and
the second end 50 are generally flat with a protrusion 38 thereon.
Moreover, the roller portion 14 is formed from a first
hemispherical portion 42 and a second hemispherical portion 44 that
is detachably coupled to the first hemispherical portion 42. Each
of the first and second hemispherical portions 42 and 44 are
preferably molded plastic. In one embodiment the hemispherical
portions 42 and 44 can be transparent; however, it is noted that
hemispherical portions can be opaque and any suitable color.
[0028] Each of the hemispherical portions 42 and 44 have an outer
circumferential surface 34a and 34b that forms the outer
circumferential surface 34 of the roller portion 14. The
hemispherical portions 42 and 44 defines a cavity 46 therein. The
hemispherical portions 42 and 44 are generally arcuate with
generally ends 48 and 50, respectively. The hemispherical portions
42 and 44 are generally circular in cross section, with an
increasing diameter from the flat ends 40 and 50 end towards the
open end 52. The open ends 52 include a circumferential edge 54 to
facilitate coupling of the hemispherical portions 42 and 44
together. When the circumferential edges 54 of the first and second
hemispherical portions 42 and 44 are joined, the hemispherical
portions 42 and 44 form the roller portion 14 with interior space
or cavity 46 configured to receive animal food. The outer
circumferential surface 34 includes ridges 55 and/or grooves 56
that enable the animal to engage the roller portion 14 to more
easily rotate the roller portion 14.
[0029] As discussed above, the protrusions 38 are sized and
configured to be disposed in the notch portion 36 of a respective
upwardly extending member 18a and 18b to enable the roller portion
14 to freely rotate above or adjacent the receiving portion 16.
[0030] The outer circumferential surface 34 of each of the roller
portion 14 includes a notch or opening 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the
notch 58 includes two arcuate sides 60 and 62 connected together4.
The arcuate sides 60 and 62 open at the circumferential edges 54.
Thus, when the hemispherical portions 42 and 44 are joined, the
notches 58 form an elliptical or circular opening 64 that enables
food to pass through the opening 64 and into the receiving section
16. In this embodiment, only two openings are illustrated; however,
the outer circumferential surface 34 of the roller portion 14 can
include a single opening or a plurality of openings (2 or more in
any suitable configuration). In one illustrated embodiment, the
outer circumferential surface 34 of the roller portion 14 can
include two openings offset from each other by 180 degrees.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first and second
hemispherical portions 42 and 44 include an engaging member 64
extending in a longitudinal direction from the circumferential
edge. In this embodiment this embodiment, the engaging member 65 is
a single acruate protrusion or ridge that extends along an inward
portion 66 of the circumferential edge 54; however, the engaging
member 64 can be a plurality of protrusions (e.g., five
protrusions) equally spaced around the circumferential edge 54.
[0032] As can be understood, each engaging member 64 of the first
and second hemispherical portions 42 and 44 preferably has a
corresponding shape and structure, so as to form an interference
fit with the other of the first and second hemispherical portions
42 and 44, thereby enabling the first and second hemispherical
portions to couple together. In one embodiment, each of the first
and second hemispherical portions 42 and 44 can have a groove that
is configured to receive a respective engaging member to form the
interference fit.
[0033] It is noted that the coupling of the first and second
hemispherical portions can be achieved in any suitable manner and
any description herein is merely exemplary.
[0034] In operation the first and second hemispherical portions 42
and 44 can be uncoupled and food can be inserted therein. The first
and second hemispherical portions 42 and 44 can then be coupled
together to form the roller portion 14, which is inserted into the
base portion 12. That is, the protrusions 38 on each of the first
and second hemispherical portions 42 and 44 are inserted into
respective notches 36 of the upwardly extending members 18a and
18b, enabling the roller portion 14 to freely rotate.
[0035] Thus, as can be understood, an animal can then manipulate
the roller portion 14 using a paw. The paw of the animal can grip
the ridges or grooves 55 and 56 on the outer surface 34 of the
roller portion 14, and rotate the roller portion 14. As one of the
openings 64 in the roller portion 14 is moved in a downward
direction, gravity will cause some the food in the cavity 46 to
fall out of one of the openings 64, while allowing other food to
remain within the cavity 46. As the animal manipulates the roller
portion 14 further additional food will continue to exit the cavity
46 of the roller portion 14.
[0036] Therefore, the present invention is an animal food dispenser
that will sustain an animal's attention for longer periods of time
than previous toys, sparking an animal's interest for longer
periods of time. Additionally, the animal food dispenser will
increase the time frame in which an animal will eat. Such an
increase in eating times may facilitate weight monitoring or
reduction in animals.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 11-14, additional configurations of the
food dispenser 110 are possible. That is, the food receiving
portion 116 can be separate from a roller receiving portion and
include cylindrical protrusions 117 that can inhibit an animal from
removing food from the receiving portion. In this embodiment, the
configuration can increase the animal interest in the dispenser and
prolong the eating of the food. The roller portion 114 in this
embodiment is configured to prevent the food from exiting the
roller portion until in a position that would enable the food to be
dispensed into the receiving portion.
[0038] In this embodiment, each of the first and second
hemispherical portions 142 and 144 have a series of flanges or
deflectors 150 that prevent the food from existing the roller
portion 114. Thus, the animal will be required to further
manipulate the roller portion 114 to dispense the food. In this
embodiment, the flanges 150 in each of the first and second
hemispherical portions 142 and 144 can correspond to form a maze
structure or be a series of random flanges.
[0039] It is noted that unless otherwise described herein the
portion of the food dispenser 10 described above can correspond the
food dispenser 110.
[0040] In understanding the scope of the present invention, the
term "comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended
to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated
features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but
do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements,
components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also
applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms,
"including", "having" and their derivatives. Accordingly, these
terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be
interpreted relative to a animal food dispenser.
[0041] The terms of degree such as "substantially", as used herein
mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such
that the end result is not significantly changed.
[0042] While only selected embodiments have been chosen to
illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and
modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example,
the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components
can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown
directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate
structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can
be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions
of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not
necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular
embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the
prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should
be considered a separate description of further inventions by the
applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts
embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of
the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for
illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the
invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *